Camera exposure control



March 7, 1 MIHALYl CAMERA EXPOSURE CONTROL Filed Oct. 14. 1942 INI/ENT() EMM.

im, /1 TTORNE YS Patented Mar. 7., 1 944 CAMERA EXPOSURE CONTROL Joseph Mihalyi, Bochesten, N. Y.. vIllllllor to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application october 14km, semi No. 461,921

achim. (ci. sas-1o)- This invention relates to photography and more particularly to camera exposure control mechanism. One object of my invention is tov provide a camera with a pointer which may indicate the combined adjustments of various exposure controlling elements. Another object of my invention is to provide a. camera with a pointer which may be normally moved to indicate the adjustment of a. camera diaphragm but which also may be moved by secondary mechanism to compensate for other exposure controlling factors, such as for instance a film speed adjusting element or a shutter speed adjusting element. or both. Another 'object of my invention is to provide a camera with a pointer which may indicate the combined adjustment ofv exposure controlling elements for a camera and which pointer may, if desired, be regulated in accordance with the position of a light-sensitive meter pointer to obtainautomatically or semiautomatically the required exposure for prevailing light conditions. Other objects will appear from the following specication, the novel features being particularly pointed out in the claims at the end thereof.

Coming now to the drawing wherein like reference charactersv denote like parts throughout:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a motion picture camera constructed in accordance with and embodying a preferred form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary and somewhat sche.- matic perspective view partially in section of a typical control mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view showing a portion of the adjusting mechanism shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing the astigmatic images ofthe meter pointer and diaphragm pointers as they appear to an operator looking through the camera view finder;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing one method of changing from angular movement to linear movement;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but of a second embodiment of the movement translating mechanism; y

Fig. 'I is a schematic view of a part of the adjusting mechanism which may be used on my improved camera;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation partially in section of themechanism shown in Fig. '1;

Fig. 9 isy a section taken on line 9--9 of Fig.

2: and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary front plan view showarilg g. portion of the adjusting mechanism of g. My invention consists broadly in providing an indicating pointer by which the combined Vad justments of the various exposure controlling ele- -ments of a camera may be indicated either over a suitable scale or in a window in which, by matching the pointer with the pointer of alightsensitive meter, a lcorrect exposure for prevailing light conditions may l be readily brought about. Y

More speciilcally; I have illustrated my invention as being applied to a motion picture camera of known type designated broadly as I, having a side door 2-which may be opened for loading film into the camera and including a top wall 3. This top wall may support brackets I- and 5 which may carry iinder elements 8 and 1 and which-may at the same time supporta camera handle 8.

A view/iinder 9 may be carried by the front member 6, there being a rear sight III through which the ileld of view may be seen.

The camera may be provided with a. front wail II which may support the usual objective in a mount I2 which may include a focusing ring I3 and a. diaphragm operating knob Il attached to a diaphragm ring Il in such a manner that diaphragm leaves I5 may be opened or closed by turning the knob I4 in one direction or the other. A cam I6 is carried -by the .diaphragm ring I4' and this cam is utilized for transmitting motion to a pointer as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The front wall II of the camera. preferably includes a housing I1 which may carry a complete light meter of the dry photovoltaic type, a light-sensitive cell I8 may be mounted behind suitable baiiles I9 for controlling the angle of light passing to the light-sensitive element. A window 33 may be positioned above the bailies I9 and may, if desired, be covered by a transparent or translucent material to diffuse the light. Ground glass may be used if desired.

As indicated in Fig. 3, the light meter includes a meter pointer 23 which may swing about itspivot 2| as an armature coil 22 is energized by current in a ileld magnet 23 which is electrically connected in a known manner with the lightsensitive element I8. Thus the pointer 20 indicates the prevailing condition of light passing through the bafiles I 9 and falling on the cell .In my copending application Serial No. 461,213, filed October 7, 1 942, for Light vmeter camera,

I have described and claimed the particular arrangement of the meter pointer 2l and the masking plate 24 which will now be briefly described.

As indicated in Pig. 5, the meter pointer 25 is pivoted to one side on its pivot 2| so that the angle of the meter arm rapidly changes as it passes across ar curved slot in a masking plate 24. "I'he reason for this curved slot is that, as the pointer arm 25 moves through the angles a, b, c, d. etc., it moves through uniform linear distances A, B, C, D, etc., across the curved slot 25 which is plotted to obtain such movement.

The reason for this is that the small area of the pointer arm 2li-that is area 25-which lies across the opening 25 or slot in the mask plate 24, forms a straightl line image in a viewing opening 28 beneath the view nnder 5 which may be viewed through the peephole 88 in the bracket 1. 'Ihe reason such an imageis-formed is that I mount a cylindrical lens 21 over the mask plate 24 and substantially focus on the meter arm 25 so that the area 25 of the arm appears as an astigmatic image of the arm and it will appear as a straight line 28' when viewed through the view nnder and cylindrical lens. If desired, a magnifying lens 28 may be placed behind the cylindrical lens 21 to increase the apparent size of the image.

It is not necessary to have a curved slot 25 and a straight pointer 28 as the modification of my invention shown in Fig. 6 may be used in which the pointer 288 is curved as 25|, so that a small area 254 appears in a straight slot 252 in a masked plate 248. Thus, when this pointer turns about its pivot 258, angular movement a, b. c, d, etc., about the pivot is translated into uniform linear movement A, B, C, D, etc., which will appear as before as a straight line 28 in the window 28 beneath the view finder. This structure forms no part of my present invention, but nevertheless, since the structure claimed in the present application does operate with the novel type of meter arm described, it was thought best to include this structure in this application.

'I'he present application is directed particularly to a pointer which may indicate the combined setting of the exposure controlling elements oi' the camera and may be, therefore, used to set the camera in condition for the exposure required as indicated by the image 25'. If a camera always employed only a single speed and if the illm used was always of the same speed, then the diaphragm adjustment would be the only control required. Such, however, is not usually the case. At the present time there are many lms having various diii'erent speeds and most cameras, even motion picture cameras, are provided with means for varying the shutter speed. Consequently it is necessary to consider all of these factors in obtaining correct exposure.

I prefer to provide a second or control pointer 85 which may move when the diaphragm knob I4 is moved and which may also be moved independently of the diaphragm for other movements of exposure controlling elements such as a illm speed control and a shutter speed control. As indicated in Figs. 3 and 8, the diaphragm ring |4 is equipped with a cam l5, this cam contacting with a lever I8 including a cam follower 85, this lever being connected by means of a friction clutch 48 to a shaft 81. A light spring 4| holds the cam follower 35 against cam I8. Thus. when the diaphragm ring i4' is turned, the pointer 85 will be turned and, 'since it lies adjacent the pointer 25, a straight line image 4|' will be formed in the window 25 by the cylindrical lens 21 and the magnifying lens 28 described above. In other words, the pointers 25 and 85 move through closely adjacent planes so that the cylindrical lens 21 forms an lastigmatic image which resultsin the 'straight line images 25' an'd 4|' shown in Fig. 4. Thus, if the image 4|' is brought into registration with the image 25 and if the pointer 35 indicates the combined adjustment of all of the exposure con trolling elements, the exposure will be correct.

In order to take care of the other exposure controlling elements-here shown as a shutter speed controlling element 5| and a film speed controlling element Bil-the following structure is employed. The shutter speed controlling element consists of a lever having a pointer 5| movable over a scale 55. here graduated `into the number of frames per second. The setting indicated in Fig. 2 is for sixteen frames per second. The arm 52 extends upwardly and is provided with a pin 58 which may snap into detents 54 on a spring plate 55 to hold the arm in a set position. This arm is carried by a sleeve shaft 14 terminating in the disk 13 which has a plurality of perforations 12, any one of which may be engaged by a Din 1| on the knob 5 5. This knobl is attached to a shaft 51 which may be moved axially against the pressure of spring 18 so that the collar 19 may compress the spring to normally hold a. pin 1| in engagement with an aperture 12. However, by drawing out on the knurling 15 of the knob 55, it might be turned until the desired film speed on the knob ls indicated by a pointer 5| attached to a plate i2. The shaft 51 is splined to a cam 55 so that this shaft, and with it the cam, may be turned either by turning the knob 5D or by turnlng the shutter speed pointer 5|. In either case the cam 55 turns so that an adjusting arm 58 riding on the cam will move.

'I'hus lever 55 can be used for transmitting the setting of either of the exposure controlling elements of the camera to the indicating pointer 35, this being accomplished through the mechanismbest shown in Figs. 'I and 8 which will now be described.

Arm 58, which is moved by the cam 55. causes a linkage composed of the links 52, 53, and 55 to move. 'I'hese links are connected by pivots 5|, 54, 55 and shaft 51. The friction of spring 45 upon the shaft 81 tends to hold this shaft stationary so that the gears 55 and 10 remain stationary. As gear 51 moves clockwise about gear 55, gear 58 moves counter-clockwise driving gear 59 and with it the pointer 85 while the lever 58 is being moved. Thus pointer 35 will be moved if either the arm 5| or the knob 55 is moved and it will indicate the combined setting of these two levers.

However, during these movements the cam follower 85 does not move, but remains in contact with the cam |5 due to its spring 4|.

Ii the shutter speed has been set and the illm speed dial has been set. the pointer l5 has been moved. However, this pointer must also be moved if a diaphragm adjustment is made. 'Ihis is accomplished in the following manner. If the diaphragm lever |4 is moved, the cam follower 85 moves because of the movement of cam I5. In this instance, as the pointer 85 moves clockwise, all of the gears move together, but the links 52, 58 and 55 remain stationary because the adjusting arm 58 does not move. Thus the pointer 85 moves independently of the adjusting arm I8 so that any diaphragm. adjustments will move the arm 35 a corresponding amount A light spring "a shown in Fig. 2 is used to hold the adjusting arm L., against the cam 56.

From the above description it will be seen that the pointer 35 will indicate the* combined setting of the various exposure controlling elements and that, therefore, since the lever 35 does this, it is only necessary to register it with a properly correlated light-sensitive cell meter pointer in order to obtain the correct exposure. Thus, if the image of the light-sensitive cell pointer 29 indicates the correct exposure by bringing the image Il of the exposure controlling pointer 35 into coincidence with it, the correct exposure is given.

I have indicated a scale 3| vabove the window 20. In Fig. 4 this scale is shown as being graduated into units of diaphragm openings because I have found that most people think of exposures in terms of diaphragm openings, but this is not actually correct insofar as the pointer arm for the exposure controlling elements go because the pointer may be moved without moving the diaphragm. However, I find such a scale is quite useful because, by selecting the normal shutter speed and the normal illm speed, the diaphragm reading may be made correct and the exposure controlling pointer 35 will only vary when an abnormal shutter speed and an unusual iilm speed is employed. It is also possible to place an arbitrary scale at 3|, but I have found in practice the present scale is quite satisfactory. This is particularly true with motion picture cameras because the depth of focus at any given aperture is usually suillciently great to make up for any reading which varies from the true aperture which might be indicated on the scale.

With the camera shown in the drawing and described above, the actual operations of making a picture can be accomplished very rapidly and very easily. When the camera is loaded the operator will adjust the illm speed knob 9D if necessary and will also adjust the shutter speed. These two movements may slightly alter the position of the arm 58 and may turn the linkage of the gear train to alter the exposure pointer 35 to the required position. For making exposures the operator merely looks through the finder elements 9 and l0 to get the proper iield of view and the light passing through the bafiles i9 and falling upon the plate I8 adjusts the meter pointer 20 so that the image 29' formed by the cylindrical lens 21, and if desired mazniiied by the objective 29, will appear as a straight line image 29 as indicated in Fig. 4. The diaphragm knob I4 is then turned until the image Il is brought into registration with the image 29', at which time the shutter trigger may be depressed to make exposures. All these operations take some time to describe but actually they can be performed very rapidly and in much less time than it takes to describe them.

Should a different exposure be required for a succeeding burst of pictures, the arm i is merely moved to the proper position. This, again, adjusts arm 58 so that the pointer 35 may again move independently of the diaphragm to compensate for the difference in shutter speed.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a plurality of exposure controlling elements which are so connected that a single pointer will indicate the combined adjustment ot these elements and that this indicator may be used either alone comprising, in combination, a camera, an objecltive and diaphragm carried thereby, a ring consmuung a.' setting member for operating the dia.,-

phragm, a shutter mechanism including a leveradapted to be moved to set the shutter speed and constituting a speed setting member, a pointer .for indicating the combined setting oi' the diaphragmsetting member and the speed setting member, and mechanism connecting the pointer and said members for moving theiormer by the latter, said mechanism including a slip clutchh between the pointer and one member and epicyclic gearing between the pointerl and the other member. v

2. An exposure indicating device for cameras comprising, in combination, a camera, an objective and diaphragm carried thereby, a ring constituting a setting member for operating the diaphragm, a shutter mechanism including a-1ever adapted to be moved to set the shutter speed and constituting a speed setting member, a pointer for indicating the combined setting of the diaphragm setting member and the speed setting member, and 'mechanism connecting the pointer and said members vfor moving the former by the latter, saidmechanism including a slip clutch between the pointer and one member and epicyclic gearing between the pointer and the other member, and a film speed setting member having a connection with the shutter speed setting mechanism whereby the pointer may be also moved by said illm speed setting member.

3. An exposure indicating device for cameras comprising, in combination, a camera, an objective and diaphragm carried thereby, a ring constituting a setting member for operating the diaphragm, a shutter mechanism including-a lever adapted to be moved to set the shutter speed and constituting a speed settingmember, a' pointer for indicating the combined setting ofthe dia.- phragm setting member and the speed setting member, and mechanism connecting theV pointer and said members for moving the formerby the latter, a iilm speed setting member for moving the pointer through said mechanism, said mechanism including a means for independently transmitting motion from the diaphragm operating member, the shutter setting member and the illm speed setting member to said pointer whereby said pointer may indicate a combined setting thereof.

4. An exposure indicating device for cameras comprising, in combination, a camera, an objective carried thereby, a diaphragm, a ring torming a setting member for operating the diaphragm, a pointer operably connected to the diaphragm, said operable connections including a slip clutch, a shutter speed setting member, a iilm speed setting member, an adjusting arm, means for moving said arm through either of the setting members, and means operable by said arm for transmitting movement to the pointer and independently oi the diaphragm whereby said pointer may indicate the combined adjustment o! the exposure controlling elements of the camera.

5. An exposure indicating device for cameras comprising, in combination, a camera, an objective carried thereby, a diaphragm. a 'ring forming a setting member for operating the dia- 6. An exposure indicating device for cameras comprising, in combination, a camera, an objective carried thereby, a diaphragm, a ring forming a settingmember i'or operating the diaphragm, a pointer operably connected to the diaphragm, said operable connections including a slip clutch, a shutter speed setting member, a nlm speed setting member, an adjustable arm, means tor moving the adjustable arm through the shutter speed setting device, mechanism connecting the adjustable arm and the pointer for transmitting movement through the adjustable arm to the pointer independently of the diaphragm ring, said means including gearing having one gear mounted on a stud and other gears carried by movable mounts, the gears moving about the stud gear when the adjustable arm is moved, and

the gears moving about mounts but not turning about the stud gears when the diaphragm ring is moved.

7. An exposure indicating device for cameras comprising. in combination, a camera, an objective carried thereby, a diaphragm, a ring forming a setting member for operating the diaphragm, a pointer operably connected to the diaphragm, said operable connections including a slip clutch, a shutter speed setting member. a film speed setting member. an adjustable arm, means for moving the adjustable arm through the shutter speed setting device, and through the film speed setting member, mechanism connecting the adjustable arm and the pointer for transmitting movement through the adjustable arm to the pointer independently of the diaphragm ring, said means including epicyclic gearing including a plurality oi' floating gears and a gear movable on a iixed pivot, a linkage carrying the iioating gears, said arm being attached to the linkage for transmitting motion from shutter speed setting device to the pointer through the floating gears carried by the 8. An exposure indicating device i'or cameras comprising, in combination, a camera. an objective carried thereby, a diaphragm-a ring forming a setting member for operating the diaphragm. a pointer operably connected to the disyphragm, said operable connections including a slip clutch, a shutter speed setting member, a nlm speed setting member, an adjustable arm, means for moving the adjustable arm through the shutter speed setting device and through the tllm speed setting member, mechanism connecting the adjustable arm and the pointer for transmitting movement through the adjustable arm to the pointer independently of the diaphragmrlng, said means including epicyclic gearing including a plurality of floating gears and a gear movable on a fixed pivot, a linkage carrying the iioating gears, said arm being attached to the linkage for transmitting motion from shutter speed setting device to the pointer through the floating gears carried by the linkage whereby the pointer may be moved thereby, said slip clutch providing a means for transmitting motion from said diaphragm to said pointer.

9. An exposure indicating device for cameras comprising, in combination, a camera, an objective carried thereby, a diaphragm, a ring forming a setting member for operating the diaphragm, a pointer operably connected to the diaphragm, said operable connectiras including l. slip clutch, a shutter speed seting member, a nlm speed setting member, ar adjustable arm, means for moving the adjur able arm through the shutter speed setting ".evice and means for moving the adjustable cnn through the lm setting member, mechanism connecting the adjustable arm and the pointer for transmitting movement through the adjustable arm to the pointer independently o'f the diaphragm ring, said means including epicyclic gearing including a plurality of iloating gears and a gear movable on a flxed pivot, a linkage carrying the oating gears, said arm being attached to the linkage for transmitting "otion from shutter speed setting device to the pointer through the oating gears carried by the linkage whereby the pointer may be moved linkage whereby the pointer may be moved therethereby, said slip clutch providing a connection between the diaphragm and the gear turnable on a fixed pivot for turning said gear to adjust said pointer in accordance with movement oi' the diaphragm.

JOSEPH MIHALYI. 

